Hormone dependency of a serially transplantable human prostatic cancer (HONDA) in nude mice

Human prostatic cancer (HONDA) serially transplanted in nude mice grew well in male mice but not at all in untreated female mice or in castrated male mice. Progressive growth in female mice was obtained by i.m. administration of 1 mg of testosterone twice a week. Estradiol inhibited the growth of the tumor in male mice to some extent; however, some growth was observed. The tumor in untreated male mice retained the histological features of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Tumors in castrated male mice showed reduction in size of tumor cell nests with relative overgrowth of stroma. The tumor in androgenized female mice consisted of columnar epithelial cells with large nuclei and more abundant cytoplasms and a large glandular lumen, showing histology of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. High levels of human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) were detected in sera from untreated male mice. Testosterone markedly increased the content of serum PAP of androgenized female mice. Estradiol reduced the levels of PAP in sera from untreated male mice regardless of the tumor weight. High-affinity androgen receptors were present in cytosol and in nuclear extract of the tumor in untreated male mice. No measurable amount of progesterone or estrogen receptors was present in cytosol from untreated male mice.